Automatic weighing-machine.



No. 632,675. Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

c. H. coouzv, AUTOMATIC W EIGH|NG MACHINE.

(Application filed May 31, 1895.)

9 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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n4: ,ucmms PETERS o0, PHOTOLIYHCL, WASHKNGTON, D. a

No. 632,675. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

C. H. COOLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(-Agplicatirm. filed May 31, 1895.) (No Model.) Sheets-Silent 2.

WW3. E Jwvwtobi r ,B @oo le y; as oi-w No. 632,675. Patented Sept. 5,1899.

c. H. coouzY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

' (Applicahion filed May 31, 1895.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4,

No. 632,675. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

C. H. COOLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 31, 1895.]

(No Model.) 9 $heetsSheet 5,

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Malta. Charlwfl ('aaley;

ms: Nonms PETERs co.. PHOTO-\ITHCL, WASHINGTON. D. r.

No. 632,675 Patented Sept. 5, I899.

C. H. CODLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

l Applicfltion filed May 31, 18953,

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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m: NORRIS PETERS co, Pmnau'mu WASHINGTON u c.

No. 632,675. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

C. H. COOLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.-

(Application filed May 81, 1895.

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 (No Model.)

WWW/MM.

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THE Noam No. 632,675 Patented Sept. 5, I899. C. H. COOLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 31, 1895.)

9 Shets-Sheet a,

{No Model.)

GVZWZeJJK 00k Bylaw/1r M160 m: Norms PETERS co. vnoToumo WASN No.632,675. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

C. H. COOLEY.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Applicntionfiled May 31, 1895.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-$heet a.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT QFHQZ.

CHARLES H. COOLEYyOF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRAT" &WHITNEY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC 'WElGHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,675; datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed May 31, 1895. Serial No. 551,071. (No model.)

To all w/wm it ita/y concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CooLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State .ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Veighing-llachines, of which the followingisa full, clear, andexact specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic weighing-machineswhich are provided with a single bucket and which are of the samegeneral form and character as the machine shown in Letters Patent No.529,246, dated November 13, 1894, to which reference should be made, theobject of the present invention being to provide an improvedorganization of mechanism so combined and adapted as to make theoperation of that machine more safe, positive, and convenient. Itincludes important improvements in the form and arrangement of thevarious elements of the machine and also in the means whereby they areconnected and caused to be operated in their proper sequence, includingalso means whereby the operation of the machine is entirely stoppedwhenever the principal elements become deranged, so that they fail toperform their proper functions. It comprises also an arrangement wherebythe grain or other material to be weighed is prevented from flowing fromthe chute into the bucket, excepting when the bucket-closer is fullyshut, thus remedying a serious fault with some of the present existingmachines, in which as a result of accident or of malicious intentcertain parts of the machine might be displaced, so as to allow of thegrain flowing in while the bucket-closer is open, thus permitting thegrain to pass through the machine for an indefinite length of timewithout being weighed or registered in any way.

This invention also has for its object the provision of a register orcounting mechanism carried upon the bucket mechanism itself and adaptedto be operated by the motion of the bucket-closer in such a way that anyfailure or derangement 011 the part of the register shall operate toarrest the motion of the bucket-closer, and thereby prevent, throughconnections hereinafter described, the supply of further material to themachine.

Referring to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification, and in which like characters designate like partsthroughout the various views, Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2a side elevation, of an automatic scale of the class designatedembodying my present invention, a portion of the frame being broken awayin Fig. 2 and the parts being shown in their normal positions, with thebucket-closer shut and the supply-valves open ready to commence thefilling of the bucket. Figs. 3 and 4 are a front and a side view,respectively, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of the machine, the parts which are here shown being in the position representedin Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 in theposition occupied by them when the bucket is in its poising position,showing the supplemental valve just ready to be released. Fig. 6 is asimilar view after the supplemental valve has been released and closed.Fig. 7 is a side view, and Fig. 8 a plan view, of the mechanism shown inthe last preceding figures in the positions occupied by them after thebucket has risen, showing the reducing and cut-off valves opened, butwith the supple mental valve still closed. Fig. 9 is a side view of thelower portion of the machine, a part of the frame being broken away inorder to show the hopper. In this view the parts are shown in thepositions occupied by them when the bucket closer has been unlatched andis swinging open. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing thebucket-closer latched in its open position. As shown in this View,enough of the grain has escaped from the bucket into the hopper to carrythe latter to its lowest position and to allow the bucket to rise. Fig.11 is a side view of the parts concerned in the operation of opening thesupplemental valve and showinglalso the means whereby said parts areheld out of connection with the valve until the bucket-closer is shutand latched. Fig. 12 is a plan view, and Fig. 13 a side view, invertical section, taken on the line l3 13 of Fig. 12, showing anarrangement for regulating the size of the opening in the bottom of thehopper. Fig. let is a side View showing myimproved drip-plate. Fig. 15is a similar view showing a modified form of my adjustable drip-platedevice and its index. Figs. 10 and 17 are side views of modifiedarrangements of my safety device, showing it adapted to disconnect thesupplement-al-valve-operating mechanism of my Patent No. 529,216. Fig.18 is a front view, and Fig. 19 a rear view, of a modified arrangementof the registering device, showing the register appurtenant to thecloser and operatingbymeans of its connectionwith the bucket.

Although it will be seen that the construction of this machine with itsvarious modifications and adjustments herein shown and described is suchthat it may be adapted to the automatic weighing of other substances,yet for the sake of clearness and unity of pun pose I will hereindescribe it as adapted to the weighing of grain, it being understoodthat by proper modification and adjustment it can be made toautomatically weigh other granular materials.

Before describing the features which embody my present invention a briefdescription will be given of those principal features of the machinewhich are similar to the corresponding features shown and described inmy Patent No. 529,216 above referred to. In order that the relation ofmy present invention to the machine of that patent may be more clearlyunderstood and for greater convenience in referring to the aforesaidpatent, lwill herein employ the same numerals and other characters whichare therein used to designate the corresponding parts.

The general construction and arrangement of the machine as a whole bestappear in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein it is shown to be supported upon twoside frames 2 and a, con nected at the top by means of the supplychute Hand at the bottom by means of the cross-beam215.Thesingle-chamberedgrainbucket G is suspended beneath the supplyehute Hby means of its lutngers 1b and 18, which rest, by means of V-shapedbearings, upon the knife-edge pivots and 17, respectively, of theprincipal arms 19 and 21 of the scale-beam 13. This beam is providedwith knife-edge pivots and 22, one at each end of the connecting memberthereof, which rest in V-shaped bearings 24; on the frame. An arm 28extends rearwardly from the pivots 20 and is provided with a suitablepivot upon which the main counterweight \V is suspended, as best shownin Fig. 2. The hopper P is suspended upon the pivots U8 and 99, attachedto the main frames 2 and 4, respectively, and is provided at its endsrearward of the pivots 0S and 09 with the counterweight 11. Attached tothis hopper is a connecting-rod 13, the other end of which is connectedto the bell-crank 2G2, pivoted upon themainframe 2 at 203. Thereducing-valve U0 is pivoted upon the front of the supplychute by meansof its arms 62 and Us and is provided with a counterweight (3.). Thecutoff valve is also pivoted at 73 upon the chute or upon the sideframes in correspond ing relation to the chute and is provided with acounterweight and with a cam 08, said cam being adapted to be engaged bya roller 55, pivoted directly upon the arm 19 of the beam. Thesupplemental valve R is also pivoted at 73, concentrically with thelocation of the cut-off valve 70, and is provided with engaging lugs 251and 252, the former of which is adapted to be engaged by the detentlatch25;, which is pivoted to a rearwardlyprojecting portion of the arm 72 ofthe cutoff valve 70. The detent-latch 25-.t is preferably formed with acounterweight, which is so disposed as to urge the detent against thepin 268, which is also fixed in the rearwardlyprojecting portion of thearm 72 and operates as a stop to limit the forward position of the latch254-. The valves to and 70, which constitute the main-valve mechanismfor reducing and for cutting off the flow of grain to the bucket, aredirectly actuated by and from the scale-beam as a result of the actionof the grainbueket G.

Up to this point the general arrangement, construction, and mode ofoperation of the mechanism described are similar to those of thecorresponding parts of my Patent No. 529,2-t6 above referred to. I willnow proceed to describe the construction, arrangement, and mode ofoperation of those parts which especially form the subject matter of mypresent invention.

The bottom of the bucket (l, through which its discharging-opening ismade, is preferably located in a horizontal plane in preference to beinginclined, as shown in my previous patent, and it is provided with thebucket-closer I, pivoted at one side thereof, said bucketeloser having acounterweight I, made sullicientlyheavy to considerably over-balance thesame. The bucket-closcr is also provided with an arm 1 the upper end ofwhich is adapted to be engaged by the latch J, pivoted to the side ofthe bucket and provided with the shoulder J, located to latch thebucketcloser in its open position, (shown in Fig. 10,) and with theshoulder J, located to engage and latch the arm 1 when the bucket-closeris in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower surface of thelatch J describes the arc of a circle struck from the pivot of thebucket-closer I as a center when the latch is in its raised position.(Shown in Fig. 11.) An arm J of the latch .1 projects downwardly and isadapted to be engaged by a pawl K, pivoted on the regulator, shown as ahopper 1. The lower end of the pawl K is so counterweighted as to tendto carry it against the stop K, which is fixed on the side of thehopper, the object of the pawl K being to raise the latch .l as theforward end of the hopper swings upward from its dot-and-dash positionto its fullline position, (shown in Fig. 2,) and that pawl is pivoted soas to allow it to pass by the arm J on the return motion of the hopper,as shown in Fig. 9.

The supplemental valve l't, mounted as prcviously described, is in thismachine drawn open by means of the supplemental-valveopcrating rod L,which is guided in its horizontal movement between the supplementalvalve and its guide-plate 256. This rod differs from thenearly-correspondin g rod shown in my previous patent in the respectthat the hook that operates to pull open the supplemental valve in themachine of the present invention is upon the under side of the rod andin the respect that itis held to its engaging position by its weightedend instead of by a spring, as shown in that patent. Upon thesupplemental valve is fixed the pin R, which when that valve is drawnback to the position shown in Fig. 2 operates to raise the rod L out ofengagement with its catch 252 and to release the said rod therefrom.This is a very desirable feature,operating, as it does, to positivelydisconnect the rod from. the supplemental valve when the latter has beencaught by the detent 25a. The rod L is connected to and operated by thebell-crank 262 in substantially the same way as that shown in the patentreferred to, excepting that the upper member of the bell-crank to whichthe rod L is connected is herein shown to be considerably longer than inthe otherinstance, so as to allow of a longer stroke of the rod.

A red M is jointed at its lower end to the latch J and is guided at itsupper end by means of the clip M on the bucket. The upper end of the rodis provided with a roller M which is located in the same vertical planewith the operating-rod L, so that the rod L is raised by the roller Mwhenever the bucket-closer is in any position intermediate to itsextreme positions in which it is engaged by the shoulders J and J at allof which intermediate positions the latch J is upheld by the arm 1 asshown in Fig. 9. From the description of the operation of the valvesgiven in my Patent No. 529,246 it will be seen that those valves are inthe positions shown in Fig. 7 when the other parts of the machine are inthe position ready to receive another load in the bucket, and it is onlynecessary to open the valve R from the position shown in Fig. 7 to thatshown in Fig. 2 to permitthe stream to flow in from the chute. In thepresent organization if it should so happen that from any cause thebucketcloser should be arrested in any position intermediate to those inwhich its arm 1 is engaged by the shoulders J and J the curved portionof the latch J will rest upon the end of the arm 1 and in this positionwill operate, through the connectingrod. M, to raise the operatingrod Lfrom its position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 11, so that whenthat red is drawn back by its connections with the hopper 1 as saidhopper rises said rod will not carry with it the supplemental valve, andthe machine will. consequently remain at rest. In this connection it isto be noted that as the bucket descends below the poising-line the freeend of latch J is prevented from further downward movement with thebucket by coming in contact with the pin 88, (said latch swinging on itspivot,) and the bucket, descending to its limit, will thereby carry thearm 1 of the closer below the shoulder J 2 of the latch, thus permittingthe closer to be opened by the weight of the material in the bucket, inwhich position the closer is latched by the shoulder J, as shown in Fig.10. Upon the discharge of a small part of the load the bucket of courseimmediately rises, carrying with it the rod M, which is upheld duringthe opening movement of the closer, and therefore sustains hook-rod Labove the lug 252 on the supplemental valve B. When Slli'llClGIli]material has passed out of the regulator P, the latter gradually rises,and the pawl K, coming into contact with arm J of latch J, raises saidlatch, which releases the closer and permits the same to shut. D uringthe first part of this rising movement of the regulator-hopper and asthe pawl K elevates the latch J the rod M is also elevated and itsroller M holds the hook-rod L out of contact with the lug 252; but whenthe closer has been unlatched and has closed the latch J drops,withdrawing rod M and permitting rod L to be actuated by the hopper P asit completes its rising movement to open the supply-valve R.

A counting or registering device N is mounted upon the bucket G, as bestshown in Figs. 1 and 2. This consists of the usual counting-wheelsarranged side by side and adapted to show in visible numerals the numberof times the bucket has been operated. Whatever form of mechanism may bepreferred is provided with an actuating-lever N, adapted to oscillatebetween two fixed stops upon the bucket, which limit its angular motionto the extent necessary to operate the register. The lower end of thelever N is connected to the counterweight I or to any other convenientpart of the bucket-closer having a suitable direction and extent ofmotion, the connecting studs and pivots being so located that thecomplete oscillation of the bucket-closer from one extreme position tothe other, as represented by the shoulders J and J of latch J, shall,when thus communicated to the lever N, just agree with the necessaryangular motionof that lever between its fixed stops. Thus it will beseen that any derangement of the register,whereby i ts mechanism becomesset so that its lever N cannot make its full stroke, operates to preventa full stroke of the bucket-closer I, thereby arresting it at someportion of its stroke intermediate to its positions at which it isengagedby the shoulders J and J lVhenever the closer is in any suchintermediate position, the curved surface of the lever J rests upon theend of the arm 1 thereby upholding the connecting-rod M,which is raised,and the operating-rod L, so that the hook of said rod will not engagewith and pull open the supplemental valve R when the machine isotherwise in condition to pull open that valve and repeat the fillingand weighing operation. Thus it will be seen that the location of theregister and the nature of its connection with the bucket-closer willoperate to entirely stop the machine whenever any derangement occurswhich is serious enough to interfere with the correct and full operationof the register.

A further highly-desirable feature involved in my present arrangement ofthe register and its actuating means resides in the fact that theregister and its actuating means are not thereby directly connected withor operated simultaneously with the supply-valve of the machine. Ithereby obviate all danger of arresting the supply-valve midway of itsmovement in either direction through any derangement or clogging of theregister or of the bucket-closer by which it is operated. Any suchderangement or clogging would be most likely to occur, if at all,between the ends of their respective movements, and the supply-valve, ifconnected with the register or its operative means, would thereby bestopped at an open position, thus permitting the grain to flow throughthe machine for an indefinite period without being weighed orregistered. By thus connecting the register directly and positively tothe bucket-closer independently of the valve mechanism I am enabled toentirely close the bucket before opening the supply-valve for the nextload. Furthermore, by combining these devices with means for holding thevalve mechanism disconnected, and thus retaining the valve in its closedposition until the bucket-closer is fully shut, I am enabled to entirelystop both the operation of the machine and the unweighed flow of grainwhenever either the register or the bucket-closer fails to properlyfully perform its function.

The means whereby I regulate the width of opening through which thegrain flows out of the hopper, so as to vary the time required for it toempty, and consequently regulate the interval between the recurringoperations of the machine, is best shown in enlarged scale in Figs. 12and 13, and consists, preferably, of a slide or slides 0, arranged onone or more sides of the inclined surfaces of the hopper, so as toextend those surfaces to the extent to which it is desired to contractthe opening in the hopper. These slides are preferably mounted upon theinside of the hopper and are provided with slots through which passscrews, by which the slides are attached to the sides of the hopper. Theparticular utility resident in this arrangement for adjusting theopening in the hopper is in the fact that no angular pockets o r cornersare formed by the slides that will afford lodgment for the passing grainand upon which the grain might so accumulate as to clog or perhapsentirely close the opening.

The mode of operation of this machine may be described as follows: XVhenin the position shown in Fig. 2, the machine is ready to receive thefirst part of its load of grain. The supplemental valve having beenpulled open, the closer locked in its closed position by means of thelatch J, and the three inletvalves being open, the grain flows rapidlyfrom the supply-chute into the bucket. \Vhen the larger portion of thedesired load has fallen into the bucket, the beam descends to itspoising-point. (Shown in Fig. 5.) This descent of the beam allows thereducing-valve to close, thereby reducing the flow of the grain to asmall stream or drip. \Vhen the full load is made up by the drip, thebeam further descends and the cut-off valve '70 is closed. On thedescent of the beam below the poising-point the further downwardmovement of latch J, with the bucket, is re strained by the contact ofits rear end with pin 88, and the bucket descending to its limit thebucket-closer is unlocked. That closer is then opened wide by the weightof the grain in the bucket and locked in its wideopen position by meansof the shoulder J of the latch J, as shown in Fig. 10. Just before thescale-beam reaches its lowest position the supplemental valve R isreleased from its latch 25st by the engagement of the latter with thepin 2G6, and the said valve is allowed to descend to its closedposition. (Shown in Fig. 6.) As the grain discharges from the bucketinto the hopper P, the latter having an emptying capacity a little lessthan that of the bucket, the hopper is tilted into the position shown inFigs. 10 and 11. This movement of the hopper operates, through themedium of the connecting-rod 13 and bellcrank 262, to return theoperating-rod L to its forward position, (shown in Figs. 7 and 11,) thusplacing it in position to engage with and open the supplemental valve Rupon the reverse movement of the hopper and connecting-rod. During thisdownward movement of the front of the hopper its pawl K moves from theposition shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 10, passing by the arm Jof the latch-lever J in its descent. As the grain is discharging thelessening weight thereof permits the bucket with its scale-beam to riseto the position shown in Fig. 2, and during this movement of themechanism the reducing-valve and the cut-oil? valve are opened in theway shown and described in connection with the similar mechanism of myabovementioned patent No. 529,2l0, leaving the supplemental valve in itsclosed position, (shown in Fig. 7,) with its operating-rod L resting incontact therewith, ready to draw the supplemental valve open. After thegrain is wholly discharged from the bucket into the hopper the latterrests in its downward position until enough grain has been dischargedfrom it to allow it to rise. As the hopper rises its pawl K is carriedagainst the arm J 3 of the latch-lever and operates to raise it from thelatched position shown in Fig. 10 to the unlatched position shown inFig. 11, thus permitting the weight I to shut the bucket IIO closer, inwhich position said closer is held as the shoulder J of the latch Jdrops behind it, as shown in Fig. 2. As the arm 1 is carried throughthis closing movement of the bucketcloser from the position shown inFig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 2 the latch J is held in its upwardposition, operating, therefore, by means of its connecting-rod M androll M to hold the rod L above its engaging position with relation tothe catch 252 of the supplemental valve R; but when the bucket-closer isentirely shut and the shoulder J 2 of the latch J drops behind the arm Ithe rod M and roll M are also lowered and allow the rod L to rest uponthe catch 252 of the supplemental valve, so that said valve is drawnopen by the continued movement of the hopper communicated to the rod Lby means of the rod 13 and cranked arm 262.

By a comparison of Figs. 2 and 11 it will be seen that if the movementof the bucketcloser were to be arrested as, for instance, in the dottedposition shown in Fig. 11-and no material should escape from the bucketthe parts would remain in their depressed positions, with all of thesupply-valves closed; but should the movement of the closer be an restedat such a position relatively to the openingin the bottom of the bucketthat material could pass from said bucket the bucket will immediatelyrise, and the latch J being upheld by the arm I of the closer the rod Mand roll M will be raised with the bucket and will therefore operate tohold the rod L in a plane above that in which it engages with the catch252 on the supplemental valve B, so

that an upward movement of the regulator.

or hopper P and the consequent backward movement of the bell-crank 262and rod L would not operate to open the supplemental valve and theoperation of the machine would be fully stopped until the difficulty wasremoved or the obstructing cause remedied.

For convenience of comparison with the machine of Patent No. 529,246 Ihave herein designated the valve R as the supplemental valve. It isobvious, however, that my improved means of connecting and disconnectingthe operating mechanism for that valve is not dependent in any way uponthe fact of the presence or absence of the other valves and 70, shown insaid patent. \Vhen these other valves are both opened, as shown in Fig.'7, the so-called supplemental valve still operates to shut off thesupply of grain from the chute as fully as though it were the only valveemployed. For this reason and in order to avoid the implication of beinglimited in theapplication of this device to the particular form ofmechanism herein shown I propose in some of the claims to designate thevalve It as the supply-valve, inasmuch as I know of no instance in theprior artin which the incorrect position or improper working of theother portions of the machine have been utilized to disconnect thesupply-valve and its operating mechanism, and thereby stop the operationof the machine. eral principle of the safety disconnecting de viceherein shown is capable of application to machines employing other formsof supply-valves. In Fig. 14 is shown an adaptation of this safetydisconnecting device to the supplyvalve operating mechanism of my abovementioned Patent No. 529,246. In this arrangement the connecting-rod Mis pivotally attached to a member of the arm J, which projects beyondits pivot for the purpose of imparting motion to said rod in the desireddirection, inasmuch as the rod 257 must be pulled downward in order todisconnect it from its catch 252. In other respects the mode ofoperation of the parts is the same as that above described. One of theprincipal reasons for the arrangement of the rod L in the presentinvention is to dispense with the spring 259 and to enable it to rest bygravity upon its engaging catch 252. This arrangement also enables me tomake a more direct and simple connection between the latch J and the rodL. In Fig. 15 is shown another adaptation of my present safetydisconnecting device to the supply-valve mech anism of my above-mentioned patent. In this arrangement the connecting-rod M is jointed tothe latch J at substantially the same posi tion shown in the othersheets of these drawings, and its motion is reversed by means of thelever M pivoted upon the bucket. In this case, also, as in Fig. 14:, theroller rests upon the top of the rod 257, but at a point nearer to thepoint of connection of that rod with its bell-crank 262. The mode ofoperation of this arrangement is substantially the same as those alreadydescribed.

In the construction, location, and arrangement of the several parts ofthis machine due attention must be paid to the relative movements of therod 13 and the rod M. The longitudinal position of the hook upon the rodL must be such that in the normal and usual operation of the machine itwill not pass by catch 252 of valve R until after the shoulder J of thelatch J falls behind the arm I. The dropping of the latch J and theconsequent fall of the rods M and L are indications that thebucket-closer is latched in its closed position ready for another loadand at this time the hook of the rod L must still be in advance of thecatch 252.

A modified arrangement of my registering device with relation to thebucket mechanism is shown in Figs. 16 and 17. In this arrangement theregister is appurtenant to the bucket closer, and, as shown in thedrawings, it may be incased within the counterweight of thebucket-closer and be provided with suitable indicating-numerals, whichmay be read from any convenient part of the machine.

The term bucket mechanism as herein employed is to be understood asreferring to the bucket and to the parts which are appur- The gentenantthereto and move therewith to weigh grain, but not including theregistering mechanism, which counts the weighing done by the bucketmechanism.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a weighing-machine, in combination withthe bucket and the bucket-closer thereof, a latch pivotally mounted uponthe bucket and provided with two shoulders adapted to latch thebucket-closer in its open and in its closed positions, said latch havingan extended member adapted to be engaged by a stationary pin of themachine as the bucket is carried down by the weight of its load, andhaving also an extended member adapted to be engaged by releasingdevices connected with the regulator.

In a grain-weigher of the class specified, in combination with thegrain-supply valve thereof, provided with an engaging catch, the hereindescribed valve operating rod, adapted to rest in engagement with thecatch of the supply-valve, and an engaging lug attached to or integralwith the valve, so located thereon as to raise its operating-rod outofengagementwithits catch at the completion of the valve-openingoperation.

I11 a grain-weigher of the class specified, in combination with thegrain-supply valve thereof, the latter being provided with catchesadapted to be engaged by its detent and by its operatingrodrespectively, the herein-described valve-operating rod adapted to restin engagement with its catch upon the supplyvalve, and adapted tocommunicate-to that valve, by means of its catch, a sufiicient o 3e11-ing movement, and a projecting lug carried by the valve, arranged andadapted to lift the operating-rod out of engagement with its catch whenthat red has carried the valve to the position in which it is safelyengaged by its detent.

i. In agrain-weigher, in combination with the supply-chute and bucketthereof, and with a valve adapted to close the opening in the chute,provided with a catch adapted to be en gaged by a valve-opening device,the hereindescribed valve-opening device adapted normally to rest inengaging relation to the catch of the valve, and a disengaging deviceoperatively connected with the bucket, and adapted to engage with thevalveppening device to lift it out of engaging relation to the valve,for the purpose specified.

5. In a weighing-machine, in combination with valve meehanism,and with abucket hav ing a closer, of means operative with the closer, adapted todisconnect said valve mechanism whenever the closer is between its twolatching positions,substantially as described.

6. In a weighing-machine, in combination with valve mechanism, and witha bucket havinga closer, a latch adapted to latch the closer in its openand in its closed positions, and adapted to be raised at all otherpositions of the closer, with the herein-described means operative withthe latch, adapted to disengage the valve mechanism when the latch israised, in the manner specified.

7. The eombination,\\'ith weighing mechanism embodying a bucket having acloser, of closer-holding means including a latch; a valve; means forraising said latch, thereby to release the closer; a rod in position tobe lifted by he latch when the latter is raised; guiding means for saidrod; and a valve-controller shiftable by said red when the latter islifted by the latch.

S. The combinatiomwith weighing mechanism embodying a bucket having acloser, of closer-holding means including a latch; a valve; means foractuating said latch; a rod in position to be operated by the latch; anda valve controller shiftablc by said rod when the latter is actuated bythe latch.

0. The combination, with a bucket having a closer, of closer-holdingmeans embodying a member having a catch and connected with the closerand a latch adapted to engage said. member, one of said closer-holdingparts ha ving a bearing-face adapted to be engaged by the othercloser-holding part on the opening of said closer; a valve;valvecontrolling means shiftable by the latch when in its elevatedposition; and means for holding the latch in such position when thecloser is be tween its latching positions, and operating to prevent anopening movement of the valve.

10. The combination, with a bucket, of a closer having a catch mountedon the bucket; a latch adapted to engage said catch a valve;valve-controlling means shiftable by the latch when in its elevatedposition; and means for holding the latch in such position when thecloser is between its two latching positions, and operating to preventan opening movement of the valve.

11. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a bucket having acloser, of a latch; a catch connected with the closer and adapted to beheld by the latch; a rod; valvecontrolling means shiftable by the redwhen said latch is in its elevated position; and means for holding thelatch in such position when the closer is between its latchingpositions, and operating when shifted to prevent an opening movement ofthe valve.

12. In a weighirig-machine, in combination with the valve mechanism, andwith a bucket closer latch adapted to disconnect the valve mechanismwhen the latch is in its raised position, the herein describedbueket-closer, having an arm adapted to engage with and hold the latchin its raised position at all. times excepting when the bucket-closer iseither fully open or fully closed, substantially as described.

13. In a weighing-machine, in combination with a bucket having a closer,and with an oscillating regulator, alatch pivotally mounted upon thebucket and adapted to latch the bucket-closer in its open position, anda pawl IIO pivotally mounted upon the regulator and adapted to raise thebucket-closer latch at the upward oscillation of the regulator,substantially as described.

14. In a weighing-inachine, in combination with the valve mechanism, andwith an oscillatin g regulator, adapted to operate said valve mechanism,the herein-described pawl pivotally mounted upon the regulator, andmeans substantially as described whereby the valve mechanism isdisengaged by the pawl at the first part of the movement of theregulator, substantially as described.

15. In a weighing-machine, in combination with the bucket, its closer,and a latch therefor, a regulator pivotally mounted below the bucket,and adapted to be operated by the discharge of the grain from thebucket, and a pawl pivotally mounted upon the regulator, adapted to passby without operating the bucket-closer upon the downward movement of theregulator, and operating to raise that latch and release thebucket-closer upon the upward movement of the regulator, substantiallyas described.

16. The combination, with a bucket provided with a closer shiftable todischarge a load, of locking means located and operable for locking saidcloser in its load-discharging position a loadreceiving regulatorshiftable in one direction by the discharging load; and a device locatedand connected to have descending and ascending movements with theregulator, and thereby operable to engage and unlock said locking meansfrom said closer when this is in its load-discharging position, and onthe ascending movement of said device and the regulator.

17. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a closer,shiftable to discharge a load, a load-receiving regulator; a

latch and a latch-actuator, the latch being mounted to hold said closerin its load-discharging position, and the latch-actuator being mounteddirectly upon the regulator, said parts being constructed to permit thelatchactuator to pass by the latch without operating the same on thedownstroke of the regulator and to trip said latch to permit the closerto resume its normal position on the upstroke of said regulator.

18. The combination, with a bucket provided with a closer shiftable todischarge a load, of a regulator shiftable in one direction by thedischarging load; and a latch and a latclractuator mounted,respectively, upon the load-receiver and the regulator, one of saidparts being so constructed that the latchactuator will pass by the latchwithout tripping the latter on the downstroke of the regulator and willtrip said latch on the upstroke of the regulator and thereby release thecloser.

19. The combination, with weighing mechanism, embodying a bucketprovided with a closer shiftable for discharging the load; of

controlling means'carried by the'bucket'and adapted to lock the closershut and also to lock said closer open; and regulatingmechanisinembodying an actuator-pawl adapted to engage a part of saidcontrolling means and thereby unlock the closer from its open lockposition and permit the same to shut.

20. The combination, with a load-receiver, of a closer therefor; a latchfor locking the closer open; valve mechanism for regulating the supplyof material to said receiver; a regulator shiftable in one direction bythe discharging load; connections between the regulator and valvemechanism for operating the latter on one stroke of the regulator; andmeans operative with the regulator and supported independently of saidconnections for actuating the latch on the ascending movement of theregulator.

21. The combination, in a weighing-machine having a supply-valve, of anactuator for said valve; a register normally operated independently ofthe valve; and means intermediate the registerand the supply-valve,operating to prevent the valve-actuator from engaging with the valve toopen the same upon the abnormal or incomplete operation of the register.

22. The combination, in a weighing-machine having a bucket mechanism,and having an independently-operated supply-valve, of a valve-actuator;a register operatively connected with the bucket mechanism; and meansintermediate the registerand the supply-valve operating to prevent thevalve-actuator from engaging with the valve upon the abnormal orincomplete operation of the register.

23. In combination, a weighing -machine having a bucket mechanism and asupplyvalve; a valve-actuator normally independent of the bucketmechanism, for opening the supply-valve; a registering device mountedupon one part of the bucket mechanism with the operating-arm thereofpositively connected with another and relatively movable part of thatmechanism; and means operable with the bucket mechanism for preventingthe valve-actuator from engaging with the valve upon the abnormal orincomplete operation of the registering device or of the bucketmechanism.

24:. In a grain-weigher, the combination, with a valve, avalve-actuator, and means for operating the same; of bucket mechanism; aregistering or counting device carried upon the bucket mechanism andoperatively connected with the bucket-closer independently of thevalve-operating mechanism; and means operable with the bucket mechanismwhereby the valve-actuator is held disengaged from the valve wheneverthe move ment of the registering device is arrested between the extremesof its movement.

25. Ina grain-weigher, the combination, with. a supply-valve and withbucket mechanism, of a valveactuatorg a registering or Wheneverthemovement of the registci'ing'de counting device, carried upon the bucketvice is arrested between the extremes of its mechanism and operativelyconnected with movement. the bucket-closer; and means substantially asdescribed operable with the bucket inech- Witnesses:

anism, whereby the valve-actuator is held A.3.[U'1"LER, out ofengagement with the supply-valve .TENNLE NELL'Is.

CHARLES H. COOLEY.

